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Title: The One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics by W. Norris Clarke, Norris Clarke ISBN: 0-268-03707-8 Publisher: Univ of Notre Dame Pr Pub. Date: January, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.14 (7 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Modernist transformation of Aquinas
Comment: In this work of CLarke, he presupposes the conclusions of contemporary theological modernism inside the Catholic Church. First, he reduces the clearly Aristotelian premises of Aquinas to Platonism. Second he repudiates the use of any of the traditional commentators of Aquinas in understanding St. Thomas' thought. These would be John of St. Thomas, John Capreolus, etc. He attempts to syntezize the contradictions of modern thought i.e. the existentialism of Heiddeger with Thomism. Yet modern existentialism rejects the essence of things and therefore denies that any THING exists which is absurd. He also refuses to use Aristotle as a source in understanding Aquinas even though, Aquinas commented on twelve works of Aristotelian corpus and despite the fact the Aquinas calls no one but Aristotle the Philisopher. His presupposing terms and epistemology reflect a modern Kantian and therefore platonist thought instead of the precise synthesis of order as expressed in Aquinas. The book is supposed to Thomist yet unfortunately, it is similar to the very straw man set rejected by Kant, a Wolffian metaphysics where concepts are univocal and philosophy is immanentist rationalist instead of concepts being analogical and philosophy is extrinsic objectivist. Unfortunately the "Thomism" of Clarke is in the tradition of Maritain, Gilson, and the transcendal thomists instead of in the tradition of John of St. Thomas, John of Capreolus, and in contemporary times that of the strictly historical Thomist, as in John Wippel. As Wolff's philosophy failed in reaching academics ultimately, unfortunately so will Clarke's precisely because he presupposes what modernist academia already has. They certainly don't need to here or buy books in that which they already believe in, the Platonist-Cartesian-Kantian immanentist rationalism of modern "philosophy".
Rating: 5
Summary: Best introduction of Thomism
Comment: This is the best inroductory text on Thomas's thought I have seen. Fr Clarke does a fine job of relaying difficult metaphysical concepts in an easy to understand manner without compromising their meaning.
In this book, Thomistic thought is effectively applied to modern philosophical and scientific issues. Ch 8 on the nature of identity through time via substance is especially good, as is Clarke's explanation on the distinction between the act of existence and a thing's essence.
This is the text I recommend for both beginners in Thomas' thought as well as more advanced thinkers anxious to gain an insight in applying Thomism to modern issues.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Metaphysical Page-Turner.
Comment: The history of metaphysical speculation is replete with contrast and contradiction; e.g. all is change, change is illusion, or all is one, each is all. As a result of which, many have sought new starting points and invented new lanquages (Heidegger must leap to mind) in the hope of providing improved perspectives.
In "The One and the Many", Norris Clarke accepts the challenge of Western thought. He does not attempt to start anew, invent a new language or rise above the past. Rather, he builds on the core ideas that Western speculation has provided seeking the limits and assimilating the truths of each.
Patiently and clearly by assimilation and contrast, Norris Clarke provides a 21st century "Thomistic existentialist" integration while calmly addressing the challenges of modernity to its ancient and medieval roots.
Half-way through Norris Clarke's The One and the Many, I decided to review some of Heidegger's Being and Time. Fresh from Father Clarke, Heidegger seemed intelligible. For this ametuer philosopher that was startling and a testimony to the clear think Father Clarke imparts to his readers.
This book is a joy to read. Enjoy him for both method and content and revel in a philosophy text that is an easy page-turner (this doesn't happen too often!).
Peace
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Title: The Metaphysical Thought of Thomas Aquinas: From Finite Being to Uncreated Being (Monographs of the Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, 1) by John F. Wippel ISBN: 0813209838 Publisher: Catholic Univ of Amer Pr Pub. Date: September, 2000 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: Explorations in Metaphysics: Geing-God-Person by W. Norris Clarke ISBN: 0268006970 Publisher: Univ of Notre Dame Pr Pub. Date: January, 1995 List Price(USD): $23.00 |
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Title: Person and Being (Aquinas Lecture 57) by W. Norris Clarke ISBN: 0874621607 Publisher: Marquette Univ Pr Pub. Date: March, 1993 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: After Aquinas: Versions of Thomism by Fergus Kerr ISBN: 0631213139 Publisher: Blackwell Publishers Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: An Interpretation of Existence by Joseph Owens ISBN: 0268011575 Publisher: Univ of Notre Dame Pr Pub. Date: December, 1987 List Price(USD): $9.50 |
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